Lemon Grove says goodbye
With the store closing, owner Emma Ashley wanted to thank loyal customers.
Roma
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AFTER two years of tireless work, putting love and care into Roma's little fruit and veggie shop, Emma Ashley will close the doors at Lemon Grove Produce for a final time on Saturday.
The building, which has been home to one of the few small businesses left on Hawthorne St, has been sold and the current tenant will move out at the end of the week
In the meantime, Ms Ashley said she will hold a sale of what remains in the shop, and taking the opportunity to thank all of her loyal customers and suppliers.
"We opened in October 2016, so that was just over two years ago,” she said.
"The past two years have been good, with lots of community support, so I want to say thank you to everyone who has come in and supported us along the way.
"Closing down is very sad, and I didn't expect this to happen at all.
"It's a shame for things to end this way, but anyway, it's just life I suppose,” she said.
Looking forward, things are now up in the air for the small business owner.
"There's not really anywhere else in town that I can go at the moment, so who knows what's going to happen with me,” Ms Ashley said.
Reflecting on the two-and-a- bit years in the building, Ms Ashley said her best memories are punctuated with regular locals in the store, and friendly customers.
"My favourite thing about the shop was making connections.
"I got to meet people in the community, and make connections across the region with my wholesalers.
"It's also been a good way to show their stuff off, because otherwise people wouldn't know about all the locally grown produce,” she said.
Ever the champion of Australian-grown goods,Ms Ashley's decision to stock St George Blueberries and Muckadilla Eggs saw them become some of the star products at Lemon Grove produce; along with Aussie mangoes sold by the tray, which had been flying out the doors all summer.
As Lemon Grove's tenure has been drawing to a close, a final store-wide sale has been held during the week, and will continue today and tomorrow.
All that is left has been heavily discounted, and is on sale from 8am -1pm.
Originally published as Lemon Grove says goodbye
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